Future Mobility

The 45th Tokyo Motor Show 2017 was organized by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. It was held for ten days from 27 October through 5 November 5 at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, Koto-ku. This year’s Tokyo Motor Show welcomed a total of 771,200 visitors from around the world.

Under its “BEYOND THE MOTOR” theme, the show saw participation from 153 companies and organisations and included all 15 brands of Japan’s 14 automobile manufacturers as well as 19 brands of 13 foreign manufacturers, with a total of 380 vehicles displayed, including numerous world and Japan premieres.

The TOKYO CONNECTED LAB 2017 special exhibit, incorporating three separate, interactive programs and advanced technologies transcending the scope of the automobile industry, was well attended. Participation was also high in other show activities such as the test-drive/ride programs that were held in the Tokyo Waterfront City area.

The test-drive/ride programs were conducted in the Tokyo Motor Show venue’s neighboring Tokyo Waterfront City area (at the Center Promenade, Odaiba Special Event venue, and MEGA WEB Ride-One site). A greatly expanded, more diverse range of test-drives/rides than ever before was on offer, including drives/rides on passenger cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles as well as on personal mobility transport and vehicles featuring next-generation technologies. A total of 5,000 visitors enjoyed these programs.

Mazda unveiled the two concepts, the KAI CONCEPT and the VISION COUPE. The Mazda KAI CONCEPT compact hatchback features the next-generation SKYACTIV-X gasoline engine, SKYACTIV-Vehicle Architecture and a more mature expression of the KODO design language, the model embodies the technology, engineering and design concepts that will define the next generation of Mazda cars. The VISION COUPE represents Mazda’s design vision for next-generation models; a more mature expression of KODO applies a Japanese aesthetic to achieve more elegant and premium styling.

Honda has been working on the development of various technologies and products. The world premiere of the Honda Sports EV Concept, a concept model which combines EV performance and AI (artificial intelligence) inside a compact body, along the Honda Urban EV Concept is a concept model which indicates the technology and design directions for Honda’s future mass-production EV models. Other models include the all-new CR-V and Clarity PHEV. Honda also had exhibits for their Ie-Mobi Concept which will supply electricity from the car to the home and from the home to the car, alongside new robots.

Other notable cars include Mitsubishi’s e-EVOLUTION CONCEPT, a 4WD, electric, low-slung SUV Coupé. Nissan showed a number of new concept cars like the new Nissan IMx all-electric Crossover and new Nissan LEAF NISMO, plus made an announcement of its participation in the 2018-2019 season of Formula E racing.

More than just cars, Yokohama Rubber showcased its long history of tire products that have provided drivers with exciting performance. These include the ADVAN dB V552, which will be introduced to markets sequentially; the ADVAN Sport V105, Yokohama’s global flagship tire, and the highly fuel-efficient BluEarth-A. The booth will also display two new tires featuring next-generation technologies. The first is a lightweight tire designed to be more eco-friendly by using less natural resources and being lighter than the conventional product. The second is an evolutionary aerodynamic tire that delivers superior fuel efficiency and safety by controlling the flow of air to the vehicle.

The adventure of mobility’s future evolution is just beginning, and the Tokyo Motor Show will evolve along with it. Various initiatives, including questionnaires completed on site by visitors to this year’s show, will be used to make the next Tokyo Motor Show an even more attractive technology-driven show in the lead-up to 2020, when the world’s attention will be focused on Japan. The 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019 will be held in the autumn of 2019 primarily at the Tokyo Big Sight venue, but will be expanded to include other venues in, for example, the nearby Tokyo Waterfront City. Meanwhile, a special event being planned for autumn 2018 will appeal to the public in general in addition to car and motorcycle fans.